Caption: Four winners at Mount Gambier for trainer Captain Abbott … (from left) Shane Flink with Cadillac Beast, Andrew Earl (Zambora Sam), Captain Abbott (Hot Cadillac) and Kerry Hawker (Cadillac Rocks).
Chase’s MIKE HILL highlights trainers who have celebrated multiple winners in the past seven days:
THREE trainers – SA’s Captain Abbott, Darwin’s Steele Bolton and top North Queensland conditioner Brad Belford – may have led in winning quartets at their local tracks, but the week’s honours must go to Hunter Valley’s Michelle Lill for her exceptional strike rate.
Lill, based at Greta between Singleton and Maitland, produced just six starters at three different tracks and they all won.
She landed a winning double at Ladbrokes Gardens (Newcastle) last Wednesday with Lochinvar Milan and Canya Unleash – her only runners at the meeting.
Then on Saturday morning Lill continued her amazing run up the Richmond 324m straight with Canya Unleash (again) and Olsen Street both successful before another double with Buzz Junkie and Canya Smurfette at Wentworth Park later that night.
“Buzz Junkie won the Group 1 Adelaide Cup in October and returned to my kennels a month later,” Lill told thedogs’ Jeff Collerson.
“He has been racing over middle distances at Gosford, The Gardens and Maitland, but I switched him back to the 520m trip at Wenty because while he is top grade over 600m, he is a fifth grader at Wentworth Park.
“Surprisingly Buzz Junkie seems to have found a bit more early pace so now I will take him to Gunnedah for the heats of the Chief Havoc Cup over 527m on June 4.
“The final is worth $40,000 this year and Buzz Junkie has had a post-to-post slip at Gunnedah, but I will take him back there for a trial before the heats.”
Lill’s husband Mick confirmed that following Saturday night’s strong finishing win, Canya Smurfette will join Buzz Junkie in the Chief Havoc Cup series at Gunnedah.
At Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway, Cap Abbott, of Cadillac Kennels, produced his quartet of winners at last Thursday’s meeting – the fourth time he has achieved the feat.
Abbott’s winners were Cadillac Rocks ($4.40), Hot Cadillac ($3.90), Cadillac Beast ($17) and Zambora Sam ($3).
The long-time Edenhope trainer rugged up his first ‘quadrella’ back in March 2012 before following it up eight years later in December 2020 and again in August ’21.
Abbott currently sits in third place on Mount Gambier’s trainers premiership behind Tracie Price and David Peckham.
Steele Bolton produced winners More Beers ($5.30), Bonnet Surfer ($12.90), On Pursuit ($6.90) and My Shout Zoe ($5) at Winnellie Park on Sunday night, increasing his advantage as Darwin’s top trainer, while Brad Belford, no stranger to rugging up multi-winners, extended his lead at Townsville.
His winners on Tuesday night were Hard To Style ($6), Rio Valour ($3.70), Winlock All Over ($1.85 fav) and Federal Phantom ($8.50).
The Gunlow-based trainer, with a major points advantage over his closest rivals, looks certain to successfully defend the title he won last year.
Belford has been in superb form of late, leading in ‘big fours’ at the past three Tuesday night meetings after producing a winning five in late April.
Meanwhile, a group of trainers across the country picked up winning trebles.
NSW: Dennis and Ann Barnes (Dubbo), Peter Sims (Temora), Peter Lagogiane (Bulli), Paul and Pamela Braddon (Dubbo).
Victoria: Robert Britton (The Meadows), Lindsay Fulford (Warragul), Aaron Debattista (Healesville).
SA: Tim Richards (Angle Park), Ben Rawlings (Gawler), Bosko Stamenkovic (Murray Bridge).
Queensland: Hayley Wooler (Townsville), Brad Belford (Townsville), Darryl McGrath (Albion Park), Michael and Amber Boody (Rockhampton). .
WA: David Magistro (Northam), Brad Cook (Northam), Chris Hales (Cannington), Damien Crudeli (Northam).
NT: Harrison Brown (Darwin).
